Watchman&#39;s supervisory system



May 17, 1932.

C. E. LOMAX ET AL WATCHMAN'S SUPERVISORY SYSTEM Filed March 2, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 1 [rural-Jars Elegance E Lama scar Levy W May 17, 1932. c.E. LOMAX ET AL I WATCHQMANS SUPERVISORY SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 2, 1929 Inn-en ar's Uscar ELau Clarence E. Lnmax Wm R mm Patented'May 17, 1932 UNI-TED STATES PA E T or-rice GLARENGE E. LOMAX, OF OANPARK, AND OSCAR C. LEVY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AS-

SIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ASSOCIATED ELECTRIC LABORATORIES,INC.,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORPORATION OF DELAWARE WATOHIANS SUPERVISORYSYSTEII Application filed larch 2, 1929. Serial No. 843,871.

This invention relates in general to signalling systems, but moreparticularly to a watchmans supervisory and signalling system of thetype wherein there are a number of w'atchmans stations arrangedthroughout a building which are operated at regular inusually sent overthe line to inform the operator of this condition. A system of thisgen-o eral type is disclosed in Patent 1,540,786, issued June 9, 1925,.to C. E. Lomax.

The principal object of the invention may be said to be broadly, theprovision of new and improved apparatus 'of the above type for use as awatchmans supervisory and signalling system.

Another objectiof this invention is to design a-system ofthe above typethat will be of inexpensive manufacture, and require a p -etc'.,-one'for each pull box on theline; the

minimum amount of maintenance after being installed.-

Afurther object is to provide a system of" this type wherein thesupervising officer. willbe releasedfrom alarge numberof unnecessaryduties formerly required duringbthe normal operation of thesystem,'there y being enabled to supervise alarger number of lines' witha mmimum amount of effort. i

After helhas operated the last pull box on his route the supervisor ismade aware of this fact by-t'he steady lighting of a route lamp, afterwhich thesupervisor controls means to register the number of thisparticular route. I v A further object of the inventionis the provisionof means whereby the watchman must operate his pull box within adefinite time interval in accordance-with the automatic stepping of-arotary switch. Should he fail to do this the supervisor will be aware ofthis fact by the intermittent fighting of the route lamp.

Other objects and features not herein mentioned but which will be:apparent later on will be pointed out-in connection with the detaileddescription, wfihich together with the drawings constitut e a preferredembodi- -ment of the invention.

'In the drawings, comprising Figs. land 2 the invention isillustrated bymeans of the *usual schematic circuit diagrams in which Fig. 1 shows aline LN extending throughout the premises of a building with a number of'watchmans pull boxes thereon, #1, #2, #23,

and #24, it being understood that there are twenty-four boxes on thisparticular line.

This line extends to the central supervising ofiice and terminates in astation-selector switch SS and agroup of relays. The emercase thelinebccfrnes grounded: I

Fig. 2 illustrates a group of relays 60, 70,

gerffiy cord cirenitE is-inserted in the line in timing" switch TS togovern the interval during which the" watchman must operate his nextpull box, and the code switch CS which able to control a punch registerPR;

A brief general description of the operation of the system and apparatusused in connection therewith will now be given, reference being had tothe drawings. The line LN, as has been stated, extends throughout aparticular building'or ainumber of floors therein and has twenty-fourwatchmans pull boxes arranged in a series circuit onit. Each pull box,for'example box #1 comprisesa pair of normally closed interruptersprings 9 adapted to be opened and closed under control. of

is common to 'ten lines or'routes-andis operthe teeth on the code-wheel14. The pull box #2 is similar in construction except that the codewheel .on this box hastwo' teeth and is adapted to send two impulsesover the line bybperating the springs'twice. Box #23 transmitstwenty-three impulses and box #24.- twenty-four. Each box on the linetransmits a particular series of impulses characteristic of thatstation. As these pull boxes are well known in the art it is not thoughtnecessary.

to further describe them or their operation. The impulses from the boxesare transmitted from the line LN over conductors 1 and 2 to the stationselector switch SS. They control the stepping magnet 40 of the switch SSin such a manner that the wipers 42 and 43 will be stepped in accordancetherewith onto the contact corresponding to the operated pull box. Itmay be here stated that the switches SS, TS and OS are of the samegeneral type as disclosed in Patent No. 1,693,027, issued to JohnErickson, November 27, 1928, wherein the wipers have a normal positionand are advanced in a forward direction each time the the successiveoperation of the pullboxes.

The first of these relays corresponds to the first box on the line andmust be energized first before any.other relay in this series can becomeenergized. When the last pull box, which in this case is #24 on theroute, has

- been operated and the last relay in the series is energized inaccordance therewith, the lamp L is lighted to indicate to thesupervisorthat the watchman has satisfactorily completed his route.

The timing switch TS is started on the operation of the first pull boxand released on the operation of each succeeding one. Should thewatchman fail to operate a pull box within the time interval allottedbetween boxes the switch TS advances far enough to operate the routelamp L in a flashing manner, thereby indicating to the supervisor thatthe watchman is in trouble. The supervisor upon noting that the watchmanhas completed his route will operate the recording key K2 which startsthe operation of the code switch CS. This code switchCS is associatedwith ten other routes and is operated over. its bank contacts associatedwith these other routes until it finds a bank contact which is grounded.During this stepping of the switch a printing recorder PR, of well knownconstruction, is operated to give a permanent record of the route which'has just been finished.

The lamp L1 at the supervisors position indicates whenever the line LNhas become grounded or open. 'In this case the watchman will not beprevented from transmitting signals over his route by any of thesefailures. Should the line become grounded the cord circuit E can beplugged into the jacks J1 and J2 lector SS in the same manner as if theline.

was not grounded.

It may be stated that asupervisor may have supervision over any numberof lines such as LN, and there will be, therefore, a number of positionsor panels such as that which comprises the keys K1 and K2 and the lampsL and L which are individual to the line LN or route #1. The code switchCS likewise controls the printing recorder PR for nine other routes.

The system having been described in general, a detailed description willnow be given of its operation. For this purpose it will be alslsumed'that the watchman is to operate all t e tendlng throughout a particularbuilding, or floor in the building, it being understood of course thatthere may be other lines similarly arranged extending to the supervisorsofiice. The watchman operates the pull box #1 and the code wheel isturned in the direction of the arrow and interrupts the contacts 9,sending one interruption over the line LN. The contacts immediatelyclose again. This line LN extends over the conductors .1 and 2 to thestation selector SS in the supervisors office over a circuit from groundthrough the winding of slow-release relay 5, normally closed contacts onarmature 12 over conductor 2 through all the pull boxes in series, backV over conductor 1, through the winding of relay 15 to battery.Slow-release relay 5 is so constructed that it does not release when theline LN is rapidly opened and closed because of the copper slug on itsheel end, and it only deenergiz-es a short time after the line he comespermanently opened. Relay 15, however, follows the impulses and fallsback when the line is opened and immediatelyenergizes when it closedagain. As only one impulse has been transmitted fromv box #1 relay 15momentarily releases its armatures 16 and 17 anda circuit is therebycompleted extending from ground on armature 6 and its front contact,armature 16 and its .back

armature 11, through the winding of relay 10 to battery. At frontcontact and armature 24 relay 20 completes a locking circuit for relay10 after it has operated, extending to the front-contact of armature24,.armature'11 and its locking contact, through the winding ull boxeson the lines LN, this line exp of relay 10. Relay 10, upon operating,

closes direct ground from armature and front contact 13, to the lineconductor 2 instead of to the slow release relay 5 as itdid before. At

' front contact of armature 12 relay com- 'pletes a local holdingcircuitfor relay 5 and at the alternate contacts disconnects relay 5from the line. This arrangement is such that if other impulses are sentfrom the line in addition to the-first impulse, as would be the casefrom other stations on the route, a better impulsing circuit would beprovided extending from direct ground at armature 13 to relay 15 insteadof to the winding of re A branch of the initial energizing circuit ofrelay 10 extends from the front contact of armature 21 of relay throughthe winding of stepping magnet 40 of switch SS to battery. The steppingmagnet accordingly becomes energized. Relay 20 at its armature 24 alsocompletes a circuit from ground through armature 24 and its frontcontact. through the winding of slow release relay 35 to battery. Thisrelay operates its armature 36 but without effect at this time. At thefront contact of armature 23 relay 20 completes a circuit from groundthrough the front closed contact of relay 15, through the winding ofrelay 30 to battery. Relay 30 attracts its armature 31 and completes acircuit after a time interval extending from ground on the front contactof armature 31. through the winding of slow-to-pull-ups relay 25 tobattery. Relay 25 is slow to energize and also deenergize because of thecopper slug on its armature end. Armature 31. it will be noted, has aweight attached to it. This is so that should a series of impulses,instead of one impulse, be sent over the line as would be the case whenother pull boxes on the line are operated, this armature would bevibrated in accordance with the energization and deenergization of relayfrom front contact of armature 17 and impulsing relay 15; and thisarmature 31 would onl come to rest after the impulses have ceased. Theweight on the armature is arranged to vibrate it on its front contacts,and not until the circuit for relay 30 has become permanently closeddoes the vibrations cease.

When this happens relay 25 will slowly energize and atthe back contactsof armature 26 open the locking circuit of relay 20 extending overarmature 22. Relay 20 thereupon deenergizes and retracts its'armatures.At front contact and armature21 the circuit extending to the steppingmagnet 40 is opened and this stepping magnet upoli deenergizing closesits armature 41 and also advances the wipers 42 and 43 one step onto thefirst set of bank contacts. At armature 23 and its front contact thecircuit of relay 30 is also opened, and this relay upon deenergizing inturn at its armature 31 opens the deenergizes due to the openin ancircuit of slow relay 25, which thereupon releases. At front contact andarmature 24 the locking ground is removed from the winding of relay 10extending to armature 11 and this relay deenergizes and at its armature13 removes direct ground from the line 2 and transfers the line throughthe alternate contact of armature 12 to relay 5, including this relay inthe line again.

' At the front contact of armature 24, it will be remembered,slow-release relay 35 had its circuit opened and consequentl releasedits armature slowly. A moment efore armature 36 becomes fully restored acircuit is completed extending from ground at armature 24 and its backcontact, armature 36 and its front contact, wiper 43 and the bankcontact 44 upon which it is now standing to conductor 50, extending torelay of Fig. 2. When the armature 36 has fully restored, groundextending from armature 24 is then extended to the back contact ofarmature 36, bank contacts upon which wiper 42 is now resting, throughthe interrupter contacts 41,-v

restoring the switch SS to normal and the stepping magnet 40 alternatelyener izes and closing of its circuit at armature 41. ipers 42 and 43,accordingly, are stepped in a forward direction until the last contactin the bank of wiper 42 has been reached and the circuit for ste pingmagnet becomes permanently open. ipers 42 and 43 are accordinglyrestored to normal position one step opposite their first set of bankcontacts. All the relays comprising the station selector SS have alsobeen restored to normal and the equipment is ready to receive anothercall from the next pull box in the series on the line LN.

The supervisor at the central oflice will be aware of the time at whichthe watchman on the route will operate his first box. He therebyoperates his key K'l to start the operation of the timing switch TS.Ground extends from the contact of the key K1, through the winding ofrelay 100 to battery. Relay 100, upon operating its armatures, at

I armature 102 completes a locking circuit for ranged .to operate therotary stepping magnet at regular predetermined intervals, for exampleone minute, and therefore step the wipers and 116 of the timing switchTS over a definite'number of bank contacts betweenthe operation of thesuccessive pull boxes.

Returning now to the operation of the first pull box and the consequentstepping of the 5 switch SS on to its first bank contact 44, and v theresultant transmission of the ground from armature 24 over the wiper 43and the bank contact 44 to the conductor 50; this ground extends to theupper low resistance winding of relay 60, then through the upper lowreslstance Winding of relay 105 to batter At armature 62 relay 60completes a loc ing circuit for itself over its front contact andarmature 62 to the back contact and armature 7 3 to ground on relay 70.At front contact of armature 61 it prepares the circuit for relay 70which is associated with the next pull box on the watchm'ans line. Atarmature 63 ground is also placed-on conductor 68 to the relay 100. Thisground is for the purpose of taking the place of ground connected fromthe key K1 in case the supervising ofiicer forgetsto operate the key K1prior to the operation of the first pull box as has been pointed out.

Referring now to the operation of relay 105, which energized in serieswith relay 60, at its back contact and armature 106 relay 105disconnects the timing device TP from the stepping magnet 110 and atback contact and armature 109 disconnects the ground circuit from theWiper 116. At armatures 107 and 108 and their front contacts a lockingcircuit is completed for relay 105 extending from ground on the bankcontacts upon which wiper 115 is resting, to the Wiper 115, frontcontact and armature 108, armature 107 and its front contact, throughthe high resistance winding of relay 105 to battery.

Accordingly relay 105 is locked up to the bank contacts of wiper 115. Abranch of this circuit also extends through armature 107., armature 111and its back contact, through the winding of the stepping magnet 110 tobattery. Accordingly the wipers 115 and 116Qare further stepped overtheir bank contacts under control of the stepping magnet 110, thisaetionrontinuing until'the last bank contact with which wiper 115 isassociated is reached, and the locking circuit of relay 105 and thestepping circuit of relay 110 becomes open. At armature 106 the timepulse device TP is again connected to the stepping magnet 110. y Thewatchman on the route next operates the pull box #2 on the line-LN,thereby transmitting two impulses under control of the code wheel overconductors 1 and 2 to the station selector SS. Accordingly relay 6 15energizes and deenergizes twice to operate the stepping magnet 40 andmove the wipers 42 and 43 onto their second bank contacts. The operationof the station selector SS is the same in this instance as when box #1was I operated, with the exception that the armature 31, associated withrelay 30, does not instantly close its front contact to ground becauserelay 15 was deenergized twice, and only when this relay becomespermanently energized will these contacts become closed. This is so thatthe release of the switch Will be effective. The transmission .of asingle pulse of current now takes place as before from ground on thearmature 24 and its back contact, armature 36 and it front contact, 75.through the wiper 43 and its second bank contact 45, over conductor 51,armature 61 and its front contact, through the upper low resistancewinding of relay 70 and the upper winding of relay 105 to battery. Relay105, upon operating, disconnects the time pulse device TP at itsarmature 106 and transfers the automatic stepping circuit for the step--ping magnet 110 to its armatures 107 and 108, through the wiper, 115 tothe bank contacts and ground. Accordingly the timing switch TS isautomatically stepped to normal position as before, after which relay105 becomes deenergized and again includes the timing device TP incircuit with stepping magnet 110 to start the automatic timing betweenthe successive pull boxes.

When relay 70'became energized in series with relay 105, at armature 73and its back contact it disconnected the locking ground 5 for relay 60,and thisrelay accordingly deenergizes. At front contact and armature 72,relay 7 0 closes a locking circuit for itself extending to the backcontact and armature 83 to ground, on relay 80. For convenience this hasbeen shown connected to relay 80,

but it should be understood that this is actually the relay next insuccession to relay 70. At front contact and armature 71, relay 70prepares a circuit for relay 80, which is associated with the pull box#23. It will be understood that there are twenty other pullboxes betweenpull box #2 and pull box #23 and also twenty relays between relay 70 andrelay 80 of similar construction and operation connected to theconductors 3 to 22, inclusive, of the switch SS. The timing switch TSwill be operated in a similar manner as before in connection with theoperation of all these intermediate relays when they a have beenoperated by their associated pull boxes. Upon the operation of pull box#23 by the watchman, twenty-three impulses will be sent over the lineLN, and conductors 1 and 2, to the station selector SS, and accordinglythe wipers 42 and 43 are stepped over the bank contacts under control ofrelay 15 in accordance with these impulses, with wiper 43 now resting onbank contact 46. An impulse of ground from armature 24 is now sent overthis wiper and its bank contact 46 as before to the conductor 52,armature 71 and its front contact (which is actually the armature of therelay preceding relay 80) through the winding of relay 80 and relay 105in series. At armature 83 relay 80 releases the preceding relay, and atarmature and front contact 82 locks itself up from ground on the backcontact and armature 92 of relay 90,

at front contact and armature '81 prepares the next pull box circuit forrelay 90, which in this case is assumed 'to be the last box on the,route or box #24. Relay 105 disconnects the timing device TP from theswitch TS and restores it to normal after which the device TB is againinserted to operate the switch in the manner previously described.

When the watchman operates the last box on his route, which in this caseis #24, and the station selector SS and the wiper 43 is positioned onthe last bank contact 47, the ground impulse is sent over this contactto conductor 53, armature 81 and its front contact, through the upperwinding of relay 90 and relay 105 in series to battery. Relay 90operates its armatures and at front contact of armature 91 completes alocking circuit for itself extending to the back contact and armature124 to ground on relay 120. At

back contact and armature 92 the locking circuit for relay 80 is openedand this relay falls back to open the original energizing circuit ofrelay 90 at armature 81. At the front contact of armature 92a circuit iscompleted extending over conductor 67 to the lamp L in supervisorsequipment which lights up and indicates to the supervisor that thewatchman on the line LN has completed his route and has satisfactorilyoperated all the pull boxes on it in regular succession. At armature andback contact 93 the locking ground for relay 100 extending to armature102 and its front contact and the winding of relay 100 is disconnectedand relay 100 deenergizes and at its armature 101 disconnects the timingdevice TP from the switch TS.

The relay 100, it will be remembered, was

originally energized from key K1 or from armature 63 of relay 60 whichwas the relay associated with the box #1 on the line. Relay 105, it willbe remembered, was energized in series with relay 90, and accordingly,closes the locking circuit for itself at armature 107 to the wiper 115and at armature 108 completed the circuit for the stepping magnet 110from the grounded bank contacts to restore the switch TS back to normalposition, opposite its first set of bank contacts after which relay 105is deenergized.

The supervisor, upon noting the illumination of lamp L, which indicatesto him that the watchman on the route to which line LN is connectedhas'completed his round of all the pull boxes, will thereupon operatethe recording key K2, placing ground on the conductor extending to thefront contact and armature 94 of relay 90, thence to the winding ofrelay 120 through the low resistance non-inductive Winding to battery.Accordingly relay 120 becomes energized and at front contact andarmature 122'completes a locking circuit for itself. At the back contactof armature 124 relay 120 removes the locking ground for relay 90 andthis relay deenergizes; at front contact of armature 123 ground is sentover conductor 67 to maintain the route lamp L illuminated after therelay 90 has deenergized. At the front contact of armature 121 relay 120places ground on conductor 64; this conductor, it will be understood, iscommon to nine other routes accessible to the code switch US. Thisground on conductor 64 extends to the windlng of slow-to-pull-up relay140 through the low resistance to battery. Relay 140 slowly energizesand at the front contact of-armature 141 completes a circuit extendingto the winding of the stepping magnet 155 to battery. Stepping magnet155 energizes and opens its armature 156, then remains in this position.At front contact and armature 142 a. circuit is completed from groundthrough the winding of slow-to-pull-up relay 145 armature 146 placesground on the other side of winding of relay 140, thereby shortcircuit-ing it so that it slowly falls back and releases its armatures.At armature 141 the circuit of stepping magnet 155 is opened, allowingthis magnet to deenergize to rotate the wipers 160 and 161 on to theirfirst set of bank contacts. At armature 142 and its front contact relay140 opens the circuit of relay 145 and when this armature is fullyrestored this relay is also short circuited. In this interval betweenenergization and deenergization of relay 145 a circuit is completed byit extending from the back contact and ground of armature 154, armature147 and its front contact, through the winding of the printing registerPR to battery. The printing register PR energizes and attracts itsarmature once to make an indentation on the roll of paper to indicate tothe supervisor at some later period of the time and number of the route.When relay 145 deenergiz'es it opens the circuit of the register whichthereupon releases.

It will be recalled that the code switch CS wasstepped on to its firstset of contacts, with wiper 161 resting on bank contact 162, this actionhaving taken place at the time of the energizatlon and deenergization ofthe stepping magnet 155. At the time that relay 120 became energized itcaused its armature 124 to be attracted and placed ground on'thisarmature onto conductor 66 which is connected to the first bank contact162 of the code switch CS. This ground now extends from the bank contact162 0ver wiper 161, to the alternate contacts Ofarmature 152, throughthe winding of slow release rela 150 to battery. Relay 150, uponenergizing, ocks itself up from its front contact and armature 152,while at the same time it disconnects itself from its originalenergizing circuit from the wiper 161 and remains locked up to thecircuit extending through its front contact and armature 151 to thewiper 160 and the first bank contact to ground.- At armature 154 thecircuit for printing magnet PR is disconnected by relay 150, and at thefront contact of armature 153 ground is placed on conductor 65 which iscommon to nine other routes. A branch of the locking circuit ofrelay 150extends from ground on the bank conwipers 160 and 161 in a forwarddirection over the bank contacts. When the bank contact' 163 in the bankof wiper 160 has been reached, the circuit for the stepping magnet 155and also the locking circuit for relay 150 is interrupted and theserelays accordingly deenergize.

Wiper 160 is now resting on bank contact 163 and wiper 161 on bankcontact 164. This position, it will be noted, is ap roximately in thecenter of the bank contact. field and the purpose of this arran ent isto make it unnecessary for the co e switch OS to be rotated all the wayback to its original normal position, as the bank contact adjacent tocontact 164 has theconductor connected with it that is also multipledwith the conductor attached to bank contact 162. All the otherconductors leading to other routes are also multipled with theirassociated conductors in the first half of the contact field.

It will be remembered thatwhen relay 150 became energized it closedground. from armature 153 onto conductor to the relay visor noting thiscondition thereupon restores his .key K2. At the front contact ofarmature 121 ground is removed from com ductor 64 to-prevent relay 140from again energizing, this relay having been previously short circuitedby relay'145, while relay 145 is short circuited and deenergized byrelay 140 at the alternate contacts of armature 142.

The foregoing describes the operation of the apparatus when a watchmansuccessfulby the supervisor on the lamp L and it has also beeniegisteredon the punch register f' PR. A d'escription-ofthe operation of thesystem will now be given of an instance *its armature '136 'to one si 1ycompletes h1s round on the line LN and 'when the number ofthe line hasbeen noted box during the time interval allotted between boxes or failsto operate the pull boxes in regular succession.

It will be remembered that the relays 60 to 90, inclusive, wereresponsive to the successive operation of the pull boxes 1 to 24inclusive, and that the time pulse device Tl operated to step the timingswitch TS over its bank contacts a certain distance at definite timein-.

tervals after the operation of one pull box and before the operation ofthe succeeding box on the line. Each time the watchman has operated oneof his pull boxes and energized the associated relays 60, 70, 80, or 90,inclu-' sive, depending on which pull box was 0 erated, the relay 105became energized to disconnect the time pulse TP and substitute thereforan automatic stepping circuit for the rotary stepping relay 110 torotate the wipers of the timing switch TP over their bank contacts untilits normal position has beenreached or the last contact in the bank.Should it happen now that the watchman operates one of his pull boxesand fails, after a definite time interval determined by the timingswitch TP, to operate the succeeding pull box, the timing swltch TS willhave advanced its wipers 115 and 116 under control of the timing pulseTP over its bank contacts to a position where the wiper 116 reaches itsbank contact 117. In this case relay 1 05 will not have been operated bythe succeeding pull box and there will be a circuit completed extendingfrom the back contact and armature 109 o relay 105, wiper 116, bankcontact 117 upon-which it is now resting, through the winding of relay125 to batter Relay 125, upon operating, completes a loci?- ing circuitfor itself independent'of the bank contact 117 and wiper 116, over acircuit extending from the back contact of armature 109, armature 126and its. front contact, through the. winding to battery. The timingswitch TS continuw to step 1ts wipers over its bank contacts until suchtime as the pull box which should have been operated is operated. f

As a further result of the energization of relay 125 a circuit iscompleted extending from grogmd on the front contact of armature 127,through the winding of slow-toull-up relay 130, through the resistanceto attery. Relay130, upon operating, at armature 131 and 1ts frontcontact closes ground through the winding of slow-to-pull-up relay 135throughthe resistance to battery. Relay 135, upon operating after a sliht interval closes do of the winding of relay 130, thereby shortcircuiting this rev lay, which after a timeinterval restores itsarmature. .The resistances'in circuit of ,the

(slow operating relays 130 and 135, it may be stated, arefor the purposeof preventing a direct'short circuit of the battery when these relaysshort circuit ea"h other. When it first became energized relay 130closed a .circuit from ground on the front contact of becomesilluminated and due to the successive energlzation and deenergization ofrelays 130 and 135 which operate alternately, lamp L is accordinglyflashed on and off; this being an emergency indication to the supervisorthat the watchman has failed to pull his next pull box in the timeallotted to him and that there is'a possibility that the watchman may bein trouble of some nature, and therefore requires immediate assistance.

The timing switch TS, after having reached bank contact 117 with itswiper 116, continues to advance its Wipers until wiper 116 reaches thebank contact 119, this action taking place a slight interval after theflashing of the lamp L, for example, five minutes or so. Conductor 118attached to bank contact 119 may be arranged to extend to a distantpolice station, so that aid may be furnished to the watchman independentof any action of the supervisor. The above flashing operation of thelamp L will continue to take place until the watchman has the troublerectified and then operates a pull box that in the first place shouldhave been operated. The

operation ofthis pull box will then operate the associated chain relayand relay 105. Re-

lay 105, at armature 109 then interrupts the locking circuit for relay125 extending over armature 126, and at its armatures 107 and 108 locksitself up and completes the circuit for the stepping magnet 110 so thatthe timing switch TS can be restored tonormal position. When the lastbank contact of the switch has been reached the circuit for relay 105 isopened and this relay restores and inserts the timing device TP incircuit to control theswitch TS. The deenergization of relay 125 causesthe armature 127 to open the circuit for r'elay 130, and relay 130 uponrestoring causes armature 131 to short circuit relay 135 which alsofalls back'. The circuit for. flashing the route lamp L is therebyopened at armatures 128 and 132, and the equipment has been restored toits normal means of operation.

a Referring now to the operation of the code has switch CS, it will benoted that'the bank contacts through which wiper 161 has access areconnected to nine other routes similar to routes connected with lineLN.- As this line LN has been thefirst rout e connected to this bankcontact only one impulse will have been sent to the printing magnet PR.If this had been anotherroute the code switch CS would have beenconnected over conductors 64 and 65 from similar apparatus such as theswitch TS and associated relays, and the associated conductor 66 wouldhave been grounded to the bank contacts. If the fourthbank conoperatedeach time automatically restore their wipers back to normal position.The time switch TS operates in a different manner under the control ofthe relay 105 to restore it to normal. The twenty-four chain relays from60 to 90, inclusive, it will be understood, must be operated in regularsuccession. The operation of one rela always preparing the circuit ofthe succeedlng relay which is operated by the succeeding pull box andthese relays must be operated in regular order by the watchman. Shouldthe watchman fail to operate the pull box which is the next one on theroute, the flashing of the lamp L indicates to the supervisor thiscondition which is brought about by the operation of the timing switchTS and the relay 125.

Referring now to the operation of the station selector SS, Fig.1, itwill be remembered that relay 5 is permanently energized over the loopcircuit over conductors 1 and 2 of line LN in series with the relay 15.In case it should accidentally happen that the line LNbecame grounded,or a break occur somewherebetween any of the stations or any where alongthe line, relay 5 deenergizes from the grounded line while relays 5 and15 deenergize when a break occurs. In any event relay 5 deenergizes andreleases its armature 6.- A circuit is thereby completed extending fromground on armature 6 and its back contact, conductor 54, through thealarm lamp L to battery. This lamp L is associated with keys K1 and K2and the lamp L at the supervisors equipment. These keys and lamps areindividual to the line LN and, it" will be understood of course, thatthere may be any number of these positions and lines similarly equippedextending to this supervisors position. lamp L will inform thesupervisor of the condition of the line and that it is not in 1ts normalcondition.

In case the line be open it would obviously be impossible to transmitasignal from any of the pull boxes to the station selector SS. However,should the line be merely grounded it is possible to operate thepullboxes on this line to transmit their codes, through the medium ofthe cord circuit E. The supervisor will insert the plug P2 into the jackJ2 and plug P1 into jack J1. Relays 3 and 4 W111 thereupon both energizefrom-the ground on the line LN and operate their armatures 7 and Theillumination of 8, thereby completing a loop circuit extending over-theline from plugP and jack J and, conductors 1 and 2, so that relays 5 and15 of the station selector SS will again be energized in series witheach other. Relay 5 will remain energized while relay 15 will energizeand deenergize in consequence of the impulses. If the ground existssomewhere between stations No. 2 and No. 23, for exam w ple, and thewatchman then operates station No. 2, relay 3 will be energized anddeenergized by the ground impulses from the code impulse springs ofstation No. 2, while relay 4 will remain in an energized condition atthis time. When station No. 23, however, is operated, relay 3 will beenergized permanently from the ground on the line and close armature 7,while relay 4 will follow the grounded impulses from the code impulsesprings of station No. 23, and at its armature 8repe'ats the impulses asloop impulses by way of armature 7, plug P, and jack J to the lines 1and 2. The inclusion of the cord circuit E in the line loop overconductors 1 and 2 is for the purpose of forming an auxiliary linecircuit so that relay 5 will again become energized instead of shortcircuited from the ground over the line LN, and consequently close itsarmature 6 on its front contact so that the ground from this armaturewill control the operation of the I switch SS.

It will be appreciated that the number of pull boxes on the line is notlimited to twentyfour as illustrated, but may be increased to any numberdesired. The station selector SS may have its bank contacts similarlyincreased to accommodate more stations, if desired. Other relays such asmay be added between relays 60 and 90. The time interval between theoperation of the successive pull boxes may also be suitably altered bygoverning the rotation of the timing device TP while the timing switchTS may have its bank contacts increased any desired amount or theconductor upon which the contact 117 is attaclied may be connected toany one of the bank contacts, either closer or farther away from thenormal position of the wiper 116.

The code switch CS can likewise have its bank contacts increased toaccommodate any number of routes or lines, such as LN, in this instanceonly ten routes having been shown. In case the number of routes isincreased it is not necessary to supply more printing registers as thepunch register PR will serve for an unlimited number-of routes. Aconsiderable saving of equipment is thereby effected. From the foregoingit will be appreciated that a new type of watchmans service system hasbeen devised which relieves the supervisor of a great many duties duringthe normal operation of the system and which ives immediate warning if apredetermine time interval is exceeded between any two successivestations which a watchmen must operate in regular sequence. The numberof punch regenergized in series with each other and all isters usuallyrequired at the central ofiice is reduced to one which serves for anynumber of watchmans routes. Continuous supervision of the line ismaintained and an immediate alarm is sent in in the event of a ground oran open circuit; and if grounded the line can be put back into serviceby means'of the emergency cord circuit E.

It will be appreciated that the invention, as illustrated in'thedrawings, is applicable to any other kind of systems, such as firealarm or similar signalling systems and is not to be understood to belimited to the precise structure illustrated, as there may be any numberof modifications made of theinvention by those skilled in the 'art, andapplicant therefore does not desire to be limited to the exactembodiment illustrated and described, but only by the extent of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a watchmans supervisory system, a line extending to a centralofiice and terminating in an automatic selector switch, a plurality ofwatchmans stations arranged in series relationship on said line, eachone having means adapted to send out a distinctive series of impulsescharacteristic of that particular station, a slow operating relay and afast operating relay in said switch normally the stations on the line,means responsive to an abnormal condition on said line for operatingsaid slow relay to give an indication of said condition, meansresponsive to the operation of one of said stations for operating saidfast relay and maintain said slow relay operated during the transmissionof impulses, means responsive to the first operation of said fast relayfor disconnecting said slow acting relay from said line and maintainingit energized over a local circuit while at the same time said fast relayis energized in seriesover said line exclusive of said slow relaysignalling means connected to said switch, means under control of saidfast operating relay for controlling the wipers of said switch inaccordance with the impulses received from said operating station tooperate said signalling means, and means responsive to the cessation ofimpulses from said station for automatically restoring said switch tonormal position and again energizing said slowand said fast'relay inseries "with each other over said line.

2. In a watchmans supervisory system,a line extending to a centraloflice and terminating in an automatic selector switch, a plurality ofwatchmans stations on said line connected in series and each havingmeans adapted to send a particular series of impulses over said linecharacteristic of said station, a slow operating relay and a fastoperatin relay normall energized in series 4 over sai ,-line with all 0said stations, means responsive to an abnormal condition on saidline'for operating said slow relay to give an indication of. saidcondition, means responsive to impulses from one of said stations foroperatin said fast relay, means responsive switch, means controlled bysaid fast operating relay for stepping the wipers of said switch overthe back contacts according to said impulses to connect with saidsignalling means, means responsive to the cessation of said impulsesfrom said operating station for again energizing said fast operatingrelay and said slow operating relay in series, and controlling a furthercircuit for rotating the wipers of said switch back to their normalposition, and means when said impulses cease for effecting thetransmission of current over said wipers to operate said signallingmeans for effecting the supervision of said operat ing station.

3. In a watchmans service system, a line extending to a central ofiiceand terminating in an automatic selector switch, signalling meansconnected to said switch, a plurality of serially connected watchmansstations on said line, a pair of relays at said station normallyenergized in series over said line through all of said stations, meansresponsive to impulses transmitted over a loop circuit from any stationon said line for operating one of said relays to position said switch onsaid signalling means, means responsive to an abnormal condition on saidline for operating the other of said relays to give an indication ofsaid condition, emergency equipment normally disconnected from said linebut adapted to be manually connected thereto in case said line becomesgrounded, means responsive to theitransmission of impulses from-saidground over said line for operating said emergency equipment, and meansresponsive to the operation of said emergency equipment for controllingsaid relays over a loop circuit.

4. In a watchmans supervisory system, an automatic selector switch,signalling means controlled by said switch, a line extending to acentral oflice and terminating in a pair of normally energized relays insaid switch, watchmans stations on said line connected in seriesrelationship with said relays, means responsive to an abnormal conditionon said I line for operating one of said relays to give an indication ofsaid condition means responsive to the transmission of impulses from oneof said stations over said line for operating the other of said relaysto controlsaid switch in accordance with said impulses to operate saidsignalling means, emergency operating equipment adapted to be manuallyconnected to said line in case said line becomes grounded, meansresponsive to impulses from said grounded line from one of said stationsfor operating said connected emergency equipment for translating saidgrounded impulses into loop impulses in said line circuit to operate theother of said relays to control the operation of said switch.

5. In a watchmans supervisory system, a line extending to a centraloffice and terminating in an automatic selector switch, signalling meansoperated by said switch, watchmans signalling stations on said line,each having means adapted to send a particular series of impulsescharacteristic of that station over said line, a slow operating relayand a fast operating relay normally energized in series over said lineand through all of said stations, said fast operating relay beingrendered operative by said impulses while said slow operating relay isnot, means controlled by said fast operating relay for operating saidswitch to operate said signalling means, emergency equipment adapted tobe manually connected to said line, means responsive to the grounding ofsaid line whereby said slow operating relay deenergizes and gives anindication of said grounded condition, and means responsive to theconnecting of said emergency equipment on said line for operating saidemergency equipment from said grounded line to translate said groundimpulses into loop impulses over said line to effect the normaloperation of said relays.

6. In a signalling system, a line extending to a central ofice andterminating in an automatic selector switch, signalling stations on saidline each having means for progressively operating said switch onto adifferent one of its bank contacts, a group of relays one for eachstation and each controlled by the preceding relay and connected insuccessive order to consecutive ones of said bank contacts,

means responsive to the operative means at the first of said stationsfor operating said switch onto a bank contact to operate the first ofsaid relays, means responsive to the operative means at the succeedingstations in consecutive order for" operating the succeeding relays oneafter another, signalling means controlled by said relays, and meansresponsive to the operation of the last of saidrelays for operating saidsignalling means.

7. In a signalling system, a line extending to a central oflice andterminating in an autosaid line controlled in consecutive order eachhaving means for progressively operating said switch to a positioncorresponding to the station, a group of relays one for each station andeach controlled by the preceding relay and connected in consecutiveorder to the cormatic selector switch, signalling stations on respondingdiflerent positions of said switch associated with the difi'erentstations, means responsive to the operative means at said stations inconsecutive order for osit onmg said switchand operating said re ays 1nsuccessive order, signalling means controlled by said relays, and meansresponsive to the operation of all of said relays in succession foroperating the signalling means.

8. In a watchmans supervisory system, a watchmans route comprising aline extending to a central office and terminating in an automaticselector switch, watchmans signalling stations on said line arranged inconsecutive order and each having signaltransinitting means foroperating said switch to a different one of its bank contacts, a groupof relays one for each station on said line, each relay controlled by apreceding relay and each connected to difierent bank contacts of theswitch in consecutive order, a signal controlled by said relays, meansresponsive to the transmitting means at each of said stations in theprescribed order for operating the relays in succession and responsiveto the last station for operating the last relay to operate said signalin a particular manner to give an indication that the watchman hascompleted his route, and means responsive to the failure or the watchmanto operate the stations in consecutive order and the consequentiailureof the operation of said relaysin consecutive order for operating saidalarm signal in a difierent man,

ner,

9, lin a watchman s service system, a line extending to a centralsupervisors ohice and terminating in an automatic selector switch,watchmans signalling stations on said line arranged thereon in apredetermined order and each having means i operating said switch to adiiierent one s positions, a group of relays one for each station andeach connected to a difi'erent position of the switch corresponding tothe station and each controlled hy the preceding relay, an alarm signalat said o ce controlled by said relays, means responsive to theoperative means from each station in succession for operating saidswitch to operate the corresponding relays one after the other andresponsive to the last station for operating the last relay to controlsaid alarm signal in a certain manner to inform the supervisor that thewatchman has operated all the stations on the-line in the redeterminedorder, and means controlled y an of said relays in the event thewatchman ails to operate the stations in predetermined order foroperating said alarm signal in a difierent manner. I

10. In a watchmans service system, a line extending to a centralsupervisors ofioe and terminating in an automatic selector switch,watchmans signalling stations on said line arranged in a predeterminedorder and each having means for operating said switch to a diflerentposition, a group of relays one for each station connected to thedifferent positions of said switch corresponding to the stations andeach controlled by the precedaeasca ing relays, an alarm signal at saidoffice controlled by said relays, means responsive to the operativemeans at each of said stations in the predetermined order for operatingthe corresponding relays one after the other and responsive to the laststation for operating the last relay to control said alarm signal in acertain manner to inform the supervisor that the watchman has operatedall of the stations on line, and means controlled by any of said relayswhen the watchman fails to operate the corresponding station foroperating said signal in a different manner.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

CLARENCE E. LOMAX. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

OSCAR G. LEVY.

